Heat shrinkable coin package

ABSTRACT

A package of coins is disclosed that includes a transparent open ended tubular wrapper of thermoplastic material applied to a stack of coins. Each end of the wrapper is drawn inwardly about the periphery of the external surfaces of the end coins of the stack with the end portions of the wrapper being flared outwardly from its end openings in a generally semi-hemispherical shape. Also, the intermediate product utilized in the manufacture of the coin package is shown which includes a package of an alternating sequence of stacks of coins and balls of a diameter approximately the same as the diameter of the coins.

0 Muted @tates Patent 1 [111 3,351,755

Hull et all. Dec. 3, 1974 [54] HEAT SHRINKABLE COIN PACKAGE 3,369,6552/1968 Harrison 206/65 S X 3,4l2,524 ll/l968 Ncstell ct al 229/DlG. I2[751 Inventors: Gerry Hun; Eugene M0ms, 3,445,056 5/1969 McCollough206/.82 x

.lr., both of-Atlanta, Ga.

[73] Assignee: AFL Machine Corporation, Atlanta, Primary ExaminerWilliami. Price Assistant Examinew-Steven E. Lipman [22] Filed: June 15, 1972Attorney, Agent, or FirmJones, Thomas & Askew 21 A l. N 263313 1 pp A D[57 ABSTRACT e t l' t t [63] C e f S lg fg a 197 A package of coins isdisclosed that includes a transommuauon 0 une parent open ended tubularwrapper of thermoplastic material applied to a stack of coins. Each endof the 2% g 206/32 206/ wrapper is drawn inwardly about the periphery ofthe l d 8 E 84 external surfaces of the end coins of the stack with the1 256/62 b end portions of the wrapper being flared outwardly from itsend openings in a generally semi.- hemispherical shape. Also, theintermediate product [56] References'clted utilized in the manufactureof the coin package is UNITED STATES PATENTS shown which includes apackage of an alternating sel,8l3,l78 7/1931v Lindsley 206/46 H quenceof stacks of coins and balls of a diameter ap- 3,047,140 7/1962 s-".-proximately the same as the diameter of the coins. 3,092,304 6/1963Kerrell..... 3,334,737 8/1967 Dreyfus 206/65 S 4 Claims, 7 DrawingFigures PATENTEDEEB 31914 3,85L755 SHEET 20F 4 PATENTELUEB Y 3.851.755

sum u 0F 4 HEAT SHRINKABLE COIN PACKAGE This patent is a division ofapplication Ser. No. 48,077, filed June 22, I970, now US. Pat. No.3,707,244.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When coins are counted and packaged, thecoins usually are taken from a random mass of coins and sorted inaccordance with their physical characteristics which correspond to theirdenomination. The coins are stacked or placed in overlying abutment withone another until a predetermined number of coins has been accumulated,and the coins are then packaged in a wrapper which usually comprises apaper wrapper.

While various mechanical devices have been developed and used to somesuccess to sort coins in accordance with their physical characteristics,the mechanical devices developed so far have been largely unsuccessfulsince they tend to become clogged with trash and debris and they fail todetect the difference in legitimate coins and slugs. Moreover, damagedcoins usually tend to be processed by the prior art machinery. Theremaining steps of counting and packaging in a typical coin processingsystem usually have been performed by hand because of the lack ofreliable automatic equipment to perform these functions.

In addition to the problems encountered in the steps of coin separation,counting and packaging, the typical package of coins resulting fromthese steps comprises an opaque cover which hides the coins from viewand prevents a person from detecting the value of the coins in thepackage or detecting any abnormality in the stacked coins of a package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present inventioncomprises a novel coin package and a novel coin processing method andapparatus. A mass of coins is placed in a coin receiving drum which isrotatable about a lateral axis. A lattice of bores is defined in theinside surface of the wall of the drum, and the bores conform in sizeand shape to the size and shape of the coins to be separated from themass of coins. Coins are lifted in the bores of the drum with themovement of the bores in an upward direction, and the coins aredischarged from .the bores to a receptacle in the upper portion of thedrum. The coins flow from the receptacle in a downward direction througha plurality of coin conduits to a coin shelf where the coins arearranged in stacks. The stacks of coins are moved in sequence over adischarge opening and spherical balls, are placed between the stacks ofcoins as the stacks move through the discharge opening. A continuousfilm of transparent plastic is applied to the stacks of coins to form acontinuous package of coins and balls, and the continuous package isopened at the balls to separate the stacks of coins into a plurality ofindividual packages of coins and to release the balls from thecontinuous package. The individual packages are transparent so that thenature and quality of the coins can be detected by visual inspection ofthe packages.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a method andapparatus for processing coins which reliably separates coins ofpredetermined physical characteristics from a mass of coins, accumulatesthe coins, and applies a transparent cover about the accumulated coins.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus forexpediently forming coins of like characteristics in a stackedrelationship with a transparent cover applied to the outside of thestack.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stack of coins having apredetermined number of coins in the stack and packaged in a transparentcover.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent upon reading the following specification when taken intoconjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration,with parts broken away, of the upper portion of the coin processingapparatus.

FIG. 1B is a continuation of FIG. EA and shows the lower portion of thecoin processing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a detailed showing of the upper portion of the coin receivingdrum and its housing and related apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the coin stacker with parts broken awayfor clarity.

FIG. 4 is a detailed showing of the stacked coins and the packagingdevice illustrating the manner in which the transparent wrapper isapplied to the coins.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the ball masher.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a package of coins.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED I EMBODIMENT Referring now in more detailto the drawing, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughoutthe several views, FIGS. 1A and 1B show an overall schematicillustration of the coin processing apparatus 10 which includes sortingdrum assembly 11, coin conduits l2, conduit terminal block 13, doglegconduits l4, revolving feeder assembly 15, rotatable platform 16,packaging assembly 18, cooler 19, guide 20 and ball masher 21.

Sorting drum assembly 11 includes a sorting drum or cylinder 24fabricated of a non-conducting material, such as nylon, teflon or any ofthe conventional dielectric materials and is positioned with itslongitudinal axis disposed in an approximately horizontal attitude, andwhich is rotatable about is longitudinal axis. Sorting drum 24 includesa lattice orplurality of coin receiving recesses 25 in theinternalsurface of its wall. Recesses 25 extend, along the length of andabout the circumference of sorting drum 24, with the recesses beingplaced in annular alignment about the circumference of the drum. As isbest illustrated in FIG. 2, coin receiving recesses 25 are substantiallyidentical inshape and each includes outer bore 26, inner counter bore28, aperture 29 and tapered or scalloped surface 30. Outer and innerbores 26 and 28 and apertures 29 for each recess 25 are disposedconcentrically with respect to each other. Outer bores 26 are of adiameter and depth which corresponds to the diameter and thickness ofthe .coins which are to be received in the coin receiving recesses.Inner counter bore 28 is slightly smaller than the smallest standardcoin normally used in the coin currency being processed, so that thesmallest coins will not enter inner counter bore 28.

Sorting drum assembly 11 also includes housing 31 which surroundssorting drum 24. Annular air flow chamber 32 is defined between housing31 and sorting drum 24. Baffles 3 1 and 35 extend along the length ofhousing 31 and project inwardly toward sorting drum 24 and terminatejust short of sorting drum 24. Baffles 34 and 35 divide annular air flowchamber 32 into first zone 36 below baffles 341 and 35 and second zone38 generally above sorting drum 24. An opening is defined in the upperportion of housing 31, and air exhaust conduit 39 is connected to theopening and functions to draw air from annular air flow chamber 32.Since coin receiving recesses 25 include apertures 29, air will flowfrom within sorting drum 24 through the apertures 29 to the annular airflow chamber 32 and then through exhaust conduit 39. Baffles 34 and 35tend to create a lower pressure zone within second zone 38 of annularair flow chamber 32.

Coin receptacle is positioned within the confines of sorting drum 2d andincludes a plurality of spaced coin receiving hoppers 4-1 which face inan upward direction and are spaced along the length of sorting drum 24at distances which correspond to the spacing of the annular rows of coinreceiving recesses 25. Coin conduits 12 are connected to coin receivinghoppers 41. While only a few of the coin receiving hoppers 41 and coinconduits 12 are illustrated for the purpose of clarity, it will beunderstood that l0 coin receiving hoppers 41 and coin conduits 12 havebeen used in the machines developed and it is anticipated that virtuallyany number of hoppers and conduits can be utilized as may be desired.

A plurality of proximity sensors or metal detectors 44 are supported byhousing 31 and are spaced along the length of the housing at distancescorresponding to the spacing of the annular rows of coin receivingrecesses 25. When a coin receiving recess carries a coin with it uponthe rotation of sorting drum 24, its proximity sensor, 4 1 will detectthe presence of the coin. Solenoid controlled air valves are alsopositioned along the length of sorting drum 24 at intervalscorresponding to the spacing of the coin receiving recesses 25. An airvalve 45 is located closely adjacent each proximity sensor 414 andcontrols the flow of air through conduit 47, and each air valve iscontrolled by its adjacent proximity sensor 44. Thus, when a proximitysensor 44 detects a coin in a recess 25, it actuates its air valve 45.Each air valve is connected to a source of air pressure so that when theair valve is opened by a proximity sensor, it functions to flow a streamof air through its conduit 47 toward the aperture 29 of a coin receivingrecess 25.

The arrangement of sorting drum assembly 1 1 is such that when a mass ofcoins is fed to the sorting drum 24 through one of its open ends, therotation of the sorting drum 24 will tend to tumble the coins as thecoins fall from the rising portion of the drum under the influence ofgravity. The coins tend to fall down the tapered surfaces 3@ into thecoin receiving recesses 25 of drum 24. If a coin corresponds in diameterto the diameter of outer bore 26 of a recess, it will tend to be seatedin the recess. The reduced air pressure in annular air flow chamber 32tends to hold each coin in a bore 26, if the coin fits the bore. if thecoin is smaller than the bore 26, it will tend to slide to the lowerportion of the bore 26 as the recess 25 moves up into an uprightattitude will not be held in the recess. As the recess moves beyond anupright attitude and into a generally downwardly facing attitude, thesmaller coin will fall from the recess. If the coin is larger than outerbore 26, it will not become seated in the outer bore and when the coinreceiving recess 25 moves beyond an upright attitude, the coin willslide out over the tapered surface of the recess and fall back into themass of coins in sorting drum 24.

Those coins that are properly sized and are received in a recess 25 willpass with its recess toward the upper portion of housing 31. First zone36 of annular air flow chamber 32 tends to hold or lock the coins in arecess with a light force. As the recesses pass baffle 34, the lockingforce on the coins is increased because of the increased pressuredifferential across drum 24 so that the coins will not tend to fall fromthe recesses as the recesses approach a downward facing attitude.

When a coin passes a proximity sensor 44, it is detected by theproximity sensor and the proximity sensor actuates its solenoidcontrolled air valve 45, which as the sorting drum 24 rotates, so thatthe coin does not completely cover inner counter bore 28. The reducedair pressure in annular flow chamber 32 will then cause causes a flow ofair through its conduit 47 to impinge the aperture 29 of the coinreceiving recess 25, thus breaking the vacuum lock applied to the coinand urging the coin from the recess. This causes the coin to fall fromthe recess toward coin receptacle 40. Coin receptacle 40 is positionedso that its coin receiving hoppers 41 are located in the normal path oftravel of a coin being discharged by an air valve 45. Thus, the coinswill fall into a coin receiving hopper 41 and will pass through one ofthe conduits 12 out of housing 31 and in a downward direction throughthe conduit.

if the coin passing with a coin receiving recess 25 is bent or haschewing gum stuck to it, or if its surfaces are otherwise malformed orimproperly sized, the shape of the coin will prevent the coin frombecoming held or locked in a coin receiving recess 25 and the coin willnot be lifted toward coin receptacle 40. Moreover, if the coin. is aslug, or is fabricated from a metal not compatible with proximitysensors 44, the proximity sensor will not be actuated by the passing ofthe coin with sorting drum 24 so that the solenoid controlled air valvewill not be actuated and the coin will not be ejected or dischargedtoward receptacle 40.

Terminal block 13 defines a plurality of verticallyextending openings 50that are arranged in a circle, and the lower ends of coin conduits 12are connected to openings 50. In addition, central opening 51 is definedin terminal block 13, and the transparent tube 52 is connected to theupper end-thereof. Transparent tube 52 can terminate a short distanceabove terminal block 13 as shown or can be connected to a ball supplyhopper (not shown). Transparent tube 52 is loaded with a plurality ofstainless steel spacer balls 54, either by hand or by a supply from ahopper.

Dogleg conduits 14 extend between terminal block 13 and revolving feederassembly 15. The upper ends of the dogleg conduits communicate with thelower ends of openings 50 in a circular arrangement, and a center dogleg55 communicates with the lower end of central opening 51 of transparenttube 52.

Revolving feeder assembly 15 is mounted on rotatable platform 16.Discharge opening 58 (FIG. 3) is defined in rotating platform 16 at itscenter of rotation, and guide block 59 is rigidly connected to rotatingplatform 16 so that it rotates with the platform. Guide block 59 isoffset from the center of rotating platform 16 and includes asemi-cylindrical discharge groove 60 which is coextensive with thecurvature of discharge opening 58. Guide block 59 is generally of flat,circular configuration and includes centrally positioned upwardlyextending circular boss 61. Boss 61 defines a vertical centralcylindrical opening 62 that extends from its upper end down into thecenter portion of guide block 69 and then turns laterally and opensthrough the side surface 64 of the guide block. Center dogleg 55 whichcommunicates at its upper end with transparent tube 52 is connected tothe upper end of opening 62 of guide block 59. Lateral groove 65 in theperiphery of guide block 59 connects the lower end of opening 62 withdischarge groove 60.

Annular revolving skirt 66 surrounds the lower portion of guide block 59and includes a series of spaced, inwardly facing semi-cylindricalvertical grooves 68. The upper surface of revolving skirt 66 isgenerally coextensive with the upper surface of guide block 59 so thatthese surfaces together from a coin shelf. If desired, a split annularring 67 can be rigidly fastened to the upper surface of guide block 59to cover the upper ends of inwardly facing grooves 68 of the annularrevolving skirt, with the opening of the split ring positioned abovedischarge 611. This tends to prevent a possible binding of the apparatusin the event a coin falls in one of the grooves 68.

Revolving coin stacker block 78 defines a central opening 71 and lowercounter bore 72. Counter bore 72 fits about circular boss 61 of guideblock 59, and opening 71 accommodates center dogleg 55. A plurality ofvertical openings 74 are positioned in a circular arrangement at spacedintervals throughout stacker block 70, and the lower ends of doglegconduits 14 are connected to these openings. Openings 74 are coextensivewith inwardly facing grooves 68 of revolving skirt 66.

The arrangement of revolvingfeeder assembly is such that when the coinsfrom dogleg conduits 14 fall into the vertical openings 74 of revolvingcoin stacker block 78, the coins form a stack of coins on the coin shelfformed by annular split ring 67 covering inwardly facing grooves 68 ofrevolving skirt 6.6. The rotation of rotatable platform 16 causes guideblock 59 to rotate in unison therewith; however, the offset lower endsof dogleg conduits M prevent revolving coin stacker block '78 andannular revolving skirt 66 from rotating. Thus, skirt 66 and stackerblock 70 will revolve but not rotate about the center discharge opening58 of rotatable platform 16. As revolving feeder assembly 15 re--volve's, the spaced inwardly facing grooves 68 of skirt 66 and thevertical openings 74 of coin stacker block 70 move about guide block 59so that they sequentially register with discharge groove 68 anddischarge open-' ing 58. As rotatable platform 16 moves in the directionas indicated by arrow 75, each inwardly facing groove 68 willsequentially pass the lower end of openings 62 of guide block 59 andthen discharge opening 58. As each groove 68 passes the lower end ofopenings 62, a spacer ball 54 will move into the groove 68 and pass withrevolving skirt 66 through lateral groove 65 of guide block 59 until theinwardly facing groove 68 registers with discharge opening 58, whereuponthe ball will fall through the discharge-opening. In the meantime, thevertical openings 74 of stacker block 70 will have accumulated andstacked coins, so that when an opening 74 registers with dischargegroove 60, the

stack of coins will follow the spacer ball 54 through the matinginwardly facing groove 68 and discharge groove 68, and then throughdischarge opening 58 in platform 16. Thus, a line of alternating stacksof coins and spacer balls will pass through discharge opening 58.

Packaging assembly 18 is positioned below rotatable platform 16 andincludes receiving conduit 76 which communicates at its upper end withdischarge opening 58. The lower end of receiving conduit communicateswith packaging header 78 (FIG. 4). A supply 79 of thermoplasticpolymeric material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene orpolyvinylchloride, communicates with heated auger 80, and the materialis heated to a plastic state and is urged in a hot condition towardheader 78. Header 78 includes concentric tubes 81 and 82. Inner tube 81receives the line of stacks of coins 84 and spacer balls 54. Heatedauger communicates at its discharge end with outer tube 82 and forcesthe hot plastic material into the annular chamber 85 defined between thetubes. The hot plastic material then flows in a downward direction tothe lower end of inner tube 81 where it is urged into engagement withthe series of coin stacks 84 and spacer balls 54. Air exhaust conduit 86communicates with the passage 88 through packaging header 78 andfunctions to apply a low pressure to the passage. Thus, when the plasticmaterial 79 emerges from annular chamber 85, the low pressure zonewithin passage 88 tends to draw the plastic material on the stacks ofcoins and spacer balls, so that a continuous wrapper is formed on thelines of coins and balls which conforms to the shape of their externalsurfaces and forms a continuous coin-ball package 91. 1

Air cooler 19 is located below packaging header 78 and includes centralvertical opening 90 which is sized to receive the continuous package 91from packaging assembly 18. An air conduit 92 communicates with opening90 through the side wall of cooler 19 and functions to flow air into thecooler and into opening 90. The flowing air tends to pass both in upwardand downward directions and about the continuous package 91 to cool thepackage, which results in hardening the plastic material of the package.Guide wheels 94 of guide 20 are spring urged into engagement withopposite sides of the continuous package 91 and each guide wheelincludes a concave periphery 95 which generally conforms to the shape ofcontinuous package 91.

Ball masher 21 is positioned below guide 20 and receives the continuouspackage 91. Ball masher 21 includes three ball mashing rollers 96a, 96b,and 960 which are spaced about the path of continuous package 91. Eachball mashing roller 96a-c comprises center bushing 98 and rotatablesleeve 99. Each bushing 98 is freely rotatable about offset stem 100,and each bushing 98 is movably connected to the other bushings 98 byturnbuckles 101. When the turnbuckles 101 are manipulated to becomelonger or shorter, the bushings 98 will tend to rotate about theiroffset stems and move closer together or further apart. The lower endsof the rotatable sleeves 99 each define internal teeth which mesh with asmall gear (not shown), and the small gear is rigidly connected to aplanetary gear 102, and the bushings, sleeves and planetary gears ofeach set are mounted upon a support block 104 that is supported fromrotatable center platform 105. Stationary stem 106 is rigidly connectedto platform 108 and extends in an upward direction through belt-drivendrive sprocket 109, concentric rotatable tube 110, and rotatable centerplatform 105. Stationary stem 106 terminates at its upper end instationary sun gear 111. Sun gear 111 and stationary stern 106 define anopening 112 for the passage of the coin packages. When drive sprocket109 is rotated, it rotates concentric rotatable tube 1 10, centerplatform 105, and support blocks 104. The planetary gears 102 of eachrotatable sleeve 99 mesh with stationary sun gear 111 so that rotatablesleeves 99 tend to walk around the continuous package passing downbetween the rotatable sleeves 99 and through the opening of stationarystem 106. The turnbuckles 101 are adjusted so that rotatable sleeves 99engage the spacer balls 54 with enough force to sever the continuouswrapper at the diameter of the spacer balls 54. As is illustrated inFIG. 5, the rotatable sleeves have a curved external surface so thatthey are of smaller diameter at their central portions than at theirends and as a result the spacer balls 54 will be engaged bysubstantially the entire vertical length of the rotatable sleeves 99 ofthe ball masher 21 as the ball masher 21 walks around the spacer balls.

When the individual coin packages are separated from the continuouspackage of coins and spacer balls, the individual packages 115 will dropfrom ball masher 21 to a waiting receptacle (not shown) where the spacerballs and individual packages 115 will be separated.

As is illustrated in FIG. 6, the wrapper '79 of the individual coinpackage 115 is transparent, and the wrapper or plastic material 79conforms to the external surfaces of the stacked coins along the sidesof the stacked coins and is necked inwardly over the end coins to form aneck 116, and then is flared out again at 118 where it was severed fromthe spacer ball. Thus, a generally bell-shaped selvage is formed at theends of the coin packages to prevent the end coins from falling from thepackages. Since the selvage at the ends of the coin packages areflexible, the coin packages can be stacked adjacent each other withvirtually no interference from the selvage. Moreover, when a persondesires to open a coin package, the selvage can be grasped and torn.

The transparent wrapper of the package enables a person to visuallyinspect the stacked coins and determine if all the coins are of thedenomination desired. Of course, the color and thickness of the coinscan be detected through the package, and if the coins are of the typewith a corrugated edge, this can also be detected.

In order that the proper number of coins be present between each spacerball, and in order for rotation of the revolving feeder assembly tofunction without binding, it is necessary to terminate the flow of coinsfrom sorting drum assembly 11 to the vertical openings 74 of stackerblock 70 just asan opening 74 is about to register with dischargeopening 58 of rotatable platform 16. To accomplish this function,rotatable platform 16 includes a downwardly extending skirt 120 thatdefinesa series of variable spaced openings 121 therethrough atintervals about the skirt which corresponds to the spacing of theopenings 74 in stacker block 70. A light source (not shown) ispositioned inside the confines of skirt 120 and detectors 122 and 124are positioned on the outside of skirt 120 to detect the light as thecoded openings 121 pass between the light and the detectors. Moreover,an inner detector 126 is spaced across from a light source (not shown)on the other side of the path of the continuous line of stacked coinsand spacer balls passing from discharge opening 58 in the rotatableplatform 16. When detector 124 senses light, it stops the rotation ofrotatable platform 16 for a short time, long enough for the detector 126beneath discharge opening 58 to have light blocked by a column of coinspassing through the discharge opening. After this short time delay,detector 124 is reset and able to begin the rotation of rotatableplatform 116'. In the meantime, if the light to detector 126 at thecenter of platform 16 is blocked by coins passing through dischargeopening 158, platform 16 will not be allowed to rotate. After the columnof coins clears detector 126, it allows platform 16 to be rotated.

A counter (not shown) is provided for each proximity sensor 44 ofsorting drum assembly 11 and counts the number of indications receivedbyits proximity sensor. When the count detected by the counter reaches thedesired number of coins for each individual package, which for examplemay be fifty, the counter causes its proximity sensor to be deactuatedso that no more coins will be discharged or dispensed to its coinreceiving hopper 41 and the corresponding conduit. With thisarrangement, coins will flow through the coin conduits 12 towardrevolving feeder assembly 15 until fifty coins have been accumulated ineach opening 74 of the revolving coin stacker block 70.

When a vertical opening 74 of the stacker block is about to registerwith discharge opening 58, the detector 122 checks the correspondingcounter for the particular opening 74 of the stacker block to determineif fifty coins have been dropped to the opening. If 50 coins have beendropped, detector 122 causes no function in the system. If less than 50coins have been dropped, detector 122 actuates an alarm (not shown), andcauses the counter to total to the number 50 (or the desired number ofcoins for each package) which cuts off the corresponding proximitysensor 44 and terminates the flow of coins to the particular opening 74.The termination of the flow of coins to the opening 74 about to registerwith the discharge opening 58 reduces the probability of a coin becomingwedged between the moving parts of the system so that the column ofcoins will drop in an orderly manner to discharge opening 58. Moreover,when the alarm is actuated, the machine operator will receive anindication that the coin package will not contain a full 50 coins.

The alarm of the system can include a light, bell, dye marker or variousother devices. Under normal circumstances, the machine operator willknow to inspect the sorting drum 24 to see if enough coins are presentin the sorting drum or to inspect the coin receiving recesses 25 todetermine if some of the recesses have become blocked, or to make thevarious normal inspections of the apparatus to identify the cause of theshort package.

While the sorting drum assembly and the various other components of thesystem have been illustrated so that they appear to package coins of onedenomination, it should be understood that the coin receiving recessesof the sorting drum can be made of different sizesto sort differentcoins. For instance, one annular ring of coin recesses can be sized forpennies, the next sized for nickles, the next sized for dimes, and soon. Since one flow channel extending between the sorting drum assembly11 and the revolving feeder assembly receives coins only from oneannular line of clin receiving recesses in sorting drum 24, only coinsof like physical characteristics will be stacked together. When thecoins are moved by the revolving feeder assembly into registration withthe discharge opening 58, the line of coin stacks and spacer balls willbe formed with alternating stacks of coin denominations.

While an air jet has been disclosed for discharging the coins from thecoin receiving recesses of the sorting drum, it will be understood thatvarious other ejecting devices can be utilized, such as probes, levers,etc. Moreover, while proximity sensors 44 have been disclosed todetermine the presence or absence and quality of the coins in therecesses of the sorting drum, various other devices can be utilized toperform the same or similar function. For instance, a light sensor orair flow sensor can be utilized for this purpose.

While spacer balls 54 have been illustrated for the purpose ofseparating the coin stacks from each other,

various other devices might be utilized. Virtually any separating objectwhich is not shaped like a coin can be inserted between the stacks ofcoins to form a spacer, and the device utilized to separate theindividual coin packages from the continuous package merely has todetect the presence of a spacer object and cut the continuous package atthat point. While a transparent thermo plastic polymeric material hasbeen disclosed as being applied to the line of coins and spacer ballsina continuous manner, it will be understood that the operation of thepackage applicator can be made to function intermittently so as to applythe material only to the coins. With this arrangement, there will be norequirement of separating the individual packages from one another.Moreover, various other wrappers can be formed, both transparent andopaque and in various colors for quick visual recognition of coin value.

While this invention has been described in detail with particularreference to preferredembodiments thereof, it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention as described hereinbefore and as defined in theappended claims. We claim:

1. A package of coins or the like comprising a plurality of coinspositioned in flat overlying abutting relationship to form a stack ofcoins, a transparent open ended tube surrounding said stack of coinswith the end portions of said tube drawn in at the ends of the stack ofcoins. uniformly about the periphery of the outside surface of each endcoin to a diameter less than the diameter of the coins in the stack ofcoins to confine the end coins about their peripheries in said stack andflared out from the drawn in portions and terminating with a diameterapproximately as large as the diameter of the coins in the stack ofcoins.

2. A package of coins or the like comprising a plurality of stackedcoins, a transparent open ended seamless tubular wrapper ofthermoplastic polymeric material applied to said plurality of stackedcoins and comprising a cylindrical portion generally conforming to theshapes of the edges of the coins in the plurality of stacked coins andend portions at each end of the'cylindrical portion being drawn inwardlyabout the periphery of the external surfaces of the end coins in theplurality of stacked coins to hold the end coins about their edgesinside the cylindrical portion of the wrapper and forming approximatelycircular end openings at each end of the wrapper with the wrapper endopenings being drawn inwardly to a diameter less than the diameter ofthe coins in said wrapper and the end portions of said wrapper flaringoutwardly from its end openings in a generally semi-hemispherical shapeand terminating in a diameter approximately as large as the diameter ofthe coins in said wrapper.

3. A package of coins or the like comprising an alternating sequence ofcoins stacked together in overlying relationship with the stacks ofcoins arranged in spaced end-to-end relationship and separating objectssized and shaped differently from the size and shape of the coinspositioned between the ends of the stacks of coins, and a continuouswrapper covering the alternating sequence of stacks of coins andseparating objects and substantially conforming to the outside shape ofthe alternating sequence of stacked coins and separating objects.

4. A package of coins or the like comprising an alternating sequence ofcoins stacked together in overlying relationship and balls of a diameterapproximately the same as the diameter of the coins, and a continuouswrapper covering said coins and said balls.

1. A package of coins or the like comprising a plurality of coinspositioned in flat overlying abutting relationship to form a stack ofcoins, a transparent open ended tube surrounding said stack of coinswith the end portions of said tube drawn in at the ends of the stack ofcoins uniformly about the periphery of the outside surface of each endcoin to a diameter less than the diameter of the coins in the stack ofcoins to confine the end coins about their peripheries in said stack andflared out from the drawn in portions and terminating with a diameterapproximately as large as the diameter of the coins in the stack ofcoins.
 2. A package of coins or the like comprising a plurality ofstacked coins, a trAnsparent open ended seamless tubular wrapper ofthermoplastic polymeric material applied to said plurality of stackedcoins and comprising a cylindrical portion generally conforming to theshapes of the edges of the coins in the plurality of stacked coins andend portions at each end of the cylindrical portion being drawn inwardlyabout the periphery of the external surfaces of the end coins in theplurality of stacked coins to hold the end coins about their edgesinside the cylindrical portion of the wrapper and forming approximatelycircular end openings at each end of the wrapper with the wrapper endopenings being drawn inwardly to a diameter less than the diameter ofthe coins in said wrapper and the end portions of said wrapper flaringoutwardly from its end openings in a generally semi-hemispherical shapeand terminating in a diameter approximately as large as the diameter ofthe coins in said wrapper.
 3. A package of coins or the like comprisingan alternating sequence of coins stacked together in overlyingrelationship with the stacks of coins arranged in spaced end-to-endrelationship and separating objects sized and shaped differently fromthe size and shape of the coins positioned between the ends of thestacks of coins, and a continuous wrapper covering the alternatingsequence of stacks of coins and separating objects and substantiallyconforming to the outside shape of the alternating sequence of stackedcoins and separating objects.
 4. A package of coins or the likecomprising an alternating sequence of coins stacked together inoverlying relationship and balls of a diameter approximately the same asthe diameter of the coins, and a continuous wrapper covering said coinsand said balls.